Golf Tips for Beginners

If you’re looking for a new hobby and you have decided to take up golf then welcome to the club (no pun intended). Golf is a brilliant sport, it’s a great way to spend time with friends, to increase fitness, to relieve stress and to enjoy a day in the sunshine. It’s easy to see why it’s the UK’s 5th most popular sport.

If you’re heading to the fairway soon to enjoy your first round of golf but you’re not sure where to start then I have some great golf tips for beginners which will come in very handy.

Know the basics

It’s important to know the basics before you head for your first round of golf. Knowing the basics such as the rules of golf (which can seem complicated at first), the scoring system, the lingo used on the green and the correct stance are all things you should familiarise yourself with prior to playing your first game. An understanding of the basics will be enough to get you started and as you play you will learn more about the game.

Look the part

Did you know that most golf clubs have rules regarding golf attire and if you don’t wear suitable clothes you could be refused access to the club and golf course? Before you join a club or book a round of golf take a look at the club rules to familiarise yourself with what clothing you should wear and this will eliminate any problems. Some common requirements include wearing a shirt that has a collar and sleeves, tailored shorts or long trousers, above ankle socks and golf shoes but as I mentioned above different clubs have different requirements so always check prior to playing. If you’re looking for new golf attire to get you started as we head towards autumn at a frightening speed you can take a look at these stylish golfing jackets, you might also want to consider investing in a golf umbrella.

Brush up on golf etiquette

It’s important to be considerate to other players when enjoying a game of golf and brushing up on golf etiquette is essential so everyone can enjoy the game. Keeping up the pace is important so if you’re finding yourself playing the slowest of your group you should try to pick up the pace as much as possible. When you head on to the green make sure you turn off your mobile phone if it goes off it’s likely to distract other players and put them off their game.

Practice makes perfect

If you’re a novice or you need a few refresher lessons why not head to your local driving range where you can practice your stance, grip, swing and practice your distance and accuracy. It’s a great way to test/refresh your skills if you’re a little rusty.

If a few trips to the driving range aren’t enough you could book a private lesson or two, you can quickly learn the basics to get you started and have feedback and tips from someone to help improve your game.

Clubs, balls and tees

It might be tempting to go out and buy a brand new full set of clubs from the off but I wouldn’t recommend this. To get started you will need a few balls, tees and if you can borrow a set of clubs from a friend this is ideal. If borrowing a set of clubs isn’t possible you don’t need one of everything, start with a short set of clubs and if you decide golf is definitely the sport for you then you can add to your collection.